Hyderabad, Feb. 4 -- After the withdrawal of nominations closed at 3 pm on Tuesday, February 3, 12,993 candidates remain in the fray for 2,996 wards across Telangana, with 6,701 candidates withdrawing from the contest ahead of the February 11 municipal elections, in which 52.43 lakh voters are eligible to cast their ballots.

Counting of votes will be taken up on February 13.

The elections will be held in seven municipal corporations and 116 municipalities, even as the nomination and withdrawal phase was marked by internal party infighting, allegations of forced withdrawals, and distress among aspirants in multiple districts.

Congress infighting in Jagtial

In Jagtial district, factionalism within the Congress has intensified over the a...